Today I Will Improve Your Sex Life - or - PP slacker theories have gotten out!

[DrewKaree]

I’m reading a great book called “Influence: Science and Practice” by Robert B. Cialdini. It’s full of research and anecdotes about how to influence people. It’s a real eye-opener.

One of the most potent forms of persuasion has to do with people’s innate need to be consistent. Studies show that people will ignore logic and information to be consistent. (In other words, we are moist robots.) According to the research, humans are hardwired for consistency over reason. You already knew that: People don’t switch political parties or religions easily. What you didn’t know is how quickly and easily a manipulator can lock someone into a position.

For example, researchers asked people to write essays in support of a random point of view they did not hold. Months later, when surveyed, the majority held the opinion they wrote about, regardless of the topic. Once a person commits an opinion to writing – even an opinion he does not hold – it soon becomes his actual opinion. Not every time, but MOST of the time. The people in these experiments weren’t exposed to new information before writing their contrived opinions. All they did was sit down and write an opinion they didn’t actually have, and months later it became their actual opinion. The experiment worked whether the volunteers were writing the pro or the con position on the random topic.

Most of the truly stupid things done in this world have to do with this consistency principle. For example, once you define yourself as a loyal citizen of Elbonia, you do whatever the King of Elbonia tells you to do, no matter how stupid that is. And your mind invents reasons as to why dying is a perfectly good life strategy.

This research provides a surefire method for readers of the Dilbert Blog to improve their sex lives. Go down to the local mall with a clipboard and pretend to be doing a research experiment. Offer $1 to attractive people who will write a paragraph describing how incredibly sexy you are. (Based on the research, you should offer a low dollar amount so people don’t think they did it entirely for the money.) Tell participants that the research has to do with handwriting analysis of people who are writing opinions they do not believe. Stop after you get 100 people to do it. That’s less than the cost of one meal at an upscale restaurant.

Give the participants your e-mail address and tell them they can get the results of the research study in a month if they contact you. According to the science, about two-thirds of the people who wrote a paragraph on your sex appeal will strongly believe it a month later, no matter how hideous you are. And a few of those people will remember to e-mail you for the results. You’ll still have to close the deal, but I think we can agree that I just did the hard work for you.

You’re welcome.

[jbox]

Damn, coming from the guy who once was mute but now can speak I might actually try this one! 

[DrewKaree]

Damn, coming from the guy who once was mute but now can speak I might actually try this one! 

Noice, izzat you?

[jbox]

No, I thought Scott Adams (the guy who writes/draws Dilbert) had some weird brain -> muscle condition that meant he literally couldn't just casually chat to people. He could give presentations, and he could even sing, but when he tried to just talk to his friends his brain wouldn't send the signals to his neck. And then a couple of months ago something just "clicked" for him and now he can talk normally.

Or was it all just a dream? 

[DrewKaree]

No, I thought Scott Adams (the guy who writes/draws Dilbert) had some weird brain -> muscle condition that meant he literally couldn't just casually chat to people. He could give presentations, and he could even sing, but when he tried to just talk to his friends his brain wouldn't send the signals to his neck. And then a couple of months ago something just "clicked" for him and now he can talk normally.

Or was it all just a dream? 

Nah.  I wasn't even thinking about that.  It was kind of an inside joke thing.  I didn't actually know that about the guy.  Other than his comics and now his blog, I knew very little about the guy. 

Of all the comics out there, I'm actually more interested in Berke Breathed and/or Bill Watterson.  I'm late to the show - I get interested in the cartoonists after they hang it up.

I knew a guy like that in high school, only it was with reading aloud.  No problems with grades, the only problem with speaking was a very infrequent stutter, but having to listen to him when he was asked to read aloud was a slow death.  Natch, I happened to have 2 classes with him where the teachers were complete and total asshats who I think thought they were "helping" him by making him read aloud so often.

[jbox]

Gotta agree with that one! Calvin & Hobbes is hilarious even if you don't even know who the real Calvin & Hobbes actually were. 

[danny_galaga]

Gotta agree with that one! Calvin & Hobbes is hilarious even if you don't even know who the real Calvin & Hobbes actually were. 

so who were the real calvin & hobbes?

[jbox]

Two very famous philosophers who each had different ideas about the nature of reality. Calvin was a big supporter of pre-destination (which is why nothing is ever Calvin's fault) while Hobbes believed in the more humanistic view that humans are a very small part of the animal kingdom which has its own rules about what is "right" and "wrong". Do a Google or Wiki for them, but if you are a big fan of C&H and of those adult swim stop-motion clips you absolutely have to . 

[_) (V) (-)]

And if you like you Robot Chicken, you probably seen this Zaxxon vs Centipede clip already.

[Ed_McCarron]

No, I thought Scott Adams (the guy who writes/draws Dilbert) had some weird brain -> muscle condition that meant he literally couldn't just casually chat to people. He could give presentations, and he could even sing, but when he tried to just talk to his friends his brain wouldn't send the signals to his neck. And then a couple of months ago something just "clicked" for him and now he can talk normally.

Or was it all just a dream? 

True.  Spasmodic Dysphonia.  He could talk in accents, or rhyme, or use his stage speaking voice, but normal speech caused his larynx to spasm... making speech impossible.

Its a mental thing.  The part of the brain responsible for normal speech goes bonkers.  Rhyme, or talk funny, and its a different part of the brain -- all is good.

Wierd.

[RayB]

Drew, I prefer the word "familiarity" over "consistency".

It's why people like music they've heard on the radio a few times, over a similar song they have never heard.

[DrewKaree]

Drew, I prefer the word "familiarity" over "consistency".

It's why people like music they've heard on the radio a few times, over a similar song they have never heard.

Umm....whua?  Didja think I wrote that?